The mayor of Mejorada, Jorge Capa, has drawn political and public outrage after diverting the only police patrol to guard his mother-in-law's occupied house.
In Mejorada del Campo, a municipality near Madrid with a population of 25,000, a controversial event unfolded when the local socialist mayor, Jorge Capa, directed the only operational police patrol car to stand guard outside the house owned by his mother-in-law, which had been occupied. The incident sparked significant political and union outrage, as the police presence was seen as misallocation of public resources to protect the personal interests of a public official. The patrol remained at the site for the better part of the night, aimed at preventing further occupation of the property.
On that Sunday, the occupier of the house had allegedly attempted to sell the property to potential new occupants in anticipation of an imminent eviction planned for Monday by a contracted eviction company. According to statements from the police union UPM, officers were involved in identifying several individuals linked to this attempted sale, but the focus quickly turned to the mayor's extraordinary order to maintain a police presence solely for the benefit of his family's circumstances.
This incident raises questions about the ethical implications of public officials using government resources for personal matters. The situation may lead to increased scrutiny of the mayor’s actions and potentially provoke broader debates about housing policies and the handling of occupation issues in Spain, where the problem of illegal occupations is a growing concern. Political and civic responses are anticipated, reflecting on the fairness of local governance and the prioritization of law enforcement resources.
